Shashayla's Blog - 2old2play

Need a good laugh

This was kinda funny prank video (mostly audio) - I needed a good laugh this afternoon.

Warren Miller Rocks!

If you haven't seen a Warren miller movie, you need to check one out. He is a skier who is now in his 80's but he started filming snow-skiers years ago. The last few years he has put out a movie a year: Coldfusion, Impact, Off the Ground, this years is "Childen of WInter". His crew films extreme skiing and other xtreme winter sports at its best.....people that spend 10 hours hiking up a mountain in the Himalayas, just to enjoy the 15 mins it takes to ski back down; Marines that have helicopter access to a mountain in Alaska that no one else can ski, also base jumping, etc.

The feeling I get playing Pure or other ATV>Skating>Snowboading games are similar to these awesome movies. I just feel free, inspired, like I can do anything. The cinematography in his movies are amazing, and the soundtracks are 100% nu-rock...just makes you want to get off your ass and live!

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Vote for Bill

Bill HAS DECIDED TO BECOME A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE.

HERE IS HIS PLATFORM:

(1) 'Press 1 for English' is immediately banned. English is
the official language; speak it or wait at the border until you can.

(2) We will immediately go into a two year isolationist posture to
straighten out the country's attitude. NO imports, no exports. We will
use the 'Wal-Mart' policy, 'If we ain't got it, you don't need it.'

(3) When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on it.

(4) All retired military personnel will be required to man one of our
many observation towers on the southern border. (six month tour) They
will be under strict orders not to fire on SOUTHBOUND aliens.

(5) Social security will immediately return to its original state. If
you didn't put nuttin' in, you ain't gettin nuttin' out. The president
nor any other politician will not be able to touch it.

(6) Welfare - Checks will be handed out on Fridays at the end of the 40
hour school week and the successful completion of urinalysis and a
passing grade.

(7) Professional Athletes --Steroids - The FIRST time you
check positive you're banned for life.

( Crime - We will adopt the Turkish method, the first time you steal,
you lose your right hand. There are no more life sentences. If
convicted, you will be put to death by the same method you chose for
your victim: gun, knife, strangulation, etc.

(9) One export will be allowed: Wheat. The world needs to eat. A bushel
of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil.

(10) All foreign aid using American taxpayer money will immediately
cease and the saved money will pay off the national debt and ultimately
lower taxes. When disasters occur around the world, we'll ask the
American people if they want to donate to a disaster fund and each
citizen can make the decision whether it's a worthy cause.

(11) The Pledge of Allegiance will be said every day at school and
every day in Congress.

(12) The National Anthem will be played at all appropriate ceremonies,
sporting events, outings, etc.

Sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes but a vote for me will get
you better than what you have and better than what you're gonna get.
Thanks for listening and remember to write in my name on the ballot
in November.
God Bless America !!!!!!!!!!!

Bill Cosby

[6 Comments]

Blog Ratings and the Type A Personality

I am interested in the reactions some of my writings have evoked.

A few of my observations:

The blog I thought was the dumbest, most embarrassing one I've written received the most "Thumbs Up".

The ones on gaming have received the most thumbs down. (it was just a survey, didn't voice a strong opinion).

The more thumbs down, the more positive comments. (eg....people giving thumbs down are probably not commenting at all)

eg; I don't see a correlation here at all....if the topic is not of interest, people don't have to read a blog. Why give a thumbs down and no comment?

Maybe I'm not getting the purpose of the thumbs up/down system.

Oh, well, I'm having fun writing, and i've met some really nice folks here!

[14 Comments]

Mom Shops with Daughter: Both Live

For those of you with little onesL enjoy the poopy diapers, the throw-up in church, the teething, the temper tantrums, the years of going with never a full night's sleep, because you have ahead of you . . . . . . . .the TEEN years. My youngest daughter, soon to be 18, took me (and my checkbook) shopping this weekend for her homecoming dress.

(Oh, Man...just saw as ad for "Pure" ...didn't know it was an ATV racer...looks awesome)...oops, sorry...got distracted...

Anyway, mind you, I have a degree in fashion design and worked for 12 years in NYC in the garment district, but as a MOM, I don't know ANYTHING about fit, color, design, or style. She is 4'11.5" and would look amazing in Jessica McClintock, but NoooOOOOooo, she wants the dress that Marilyn wore when she sang Happy Birthday to Jack. But I am not the mom who is going to tell my kid what she can or cannot wear to her Senior year parties, and I'm especially not the mom who wants to hear that the evening was a disaster because the dress I recommended was (pick one: ) laughed at, strap breaks, gives her a hives, makes her boyfriend break up with her, or ....and by far the worst.....has a twin at the same dance!) , so we get the Marilyn dress. And she even said, "Thanks Mom", and best of all....her dad gave me a check today for the price of the dress!

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how important is winning?

I'm thinking that men and women (generally) feel differently about this.

I am an avid Carcassonne player...I love the game....it makes me think, but it is not too hard, I find it relaxing...I just enjoy it. I'm rated in the top 10 of rated players, but my win/lose ratio is not too much better than 50/50. I am not a very agressive player unless I get mad and think my opponent is a total jerk. I like to win, but I enjoy playing whether I win or lose. After playing a game of this type as often as I do, you get to know the other players. So when I play against an unfamiliar tag, I often give them the benefit of the doubt, expecially if they appear hesitant and new. Even when I play frequent opponents, I will block to add difficulty to their progress, but I usually don't block so their pieces are permanently disabled; I'd rather outwith them than cripple them. I guess I'm a wimp.

I've had (in my opinion) jerks ask me why I bother if I lose so much, tell me I'm terrible, ask me why don't I give it up, I'm obviously not learning anything, etc, etc. For me it is not only about winning. It is the socialization, it is a passtime; I don't think I've ever won a game of Monopoly in my life, but I still like playing with my kids. I guess what I'm saying is, there is more to playing Carcassonne for me than just winning,,,,and the same goes for most other games I play. I certainly don't win most shooters, but it is still fun, and i'm not going to stop playing!

[8 Comments]

gggrrrrrrrrrr

I DO NOT have the NSFW box checked! just saying.....

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Book Challenge: Next Chapter

I know you all have been on the edge of your seats awaiting the results of this book challenge thing!...lmoa....anyway, that's the great thing about Blogs....you can write away, and if someone replies and you get a dialogue going, great....if not...at least you got to practice your typing skills. And you guys get to listen to my crap because if I put it on my Librarian Blog, someone I work with might read it and I might get reprimanded......so much for free speech!

OK...the committee met and decided they thought the book was disappointingly tame. Their recommendation: from here on out we will put a disclaimer notice in the student handbook, the school website, and a notice is going out in this month's newsletter advising parents that we have a wide variety of reading materials available to meet the requests adn interests of a wide and diverse population of students, and that it is the parents' duty to discuss with their children what reading materials they find acceptable, and to notify the school if they feel they want to put restrictions on their child's library access.

Now we shall see what happens next...the parents have the right to appeal our decision NOT to pull the book, and we fully expect them to do so (their emails were cc'd to the local newspaper), which means they will be dealing with the county school board....which can be tricky because then publicity happens and people get scared.....hopefully this will all take place after the election (we have local positions up for vote).

[4 Comments]

Favorite Games That You Hate To Admit To

I was on Game Spot looking at the new releases and noticed that there will be a Ghost Busters game out soon, produced by Harold Ramis, I believe. I thought, "Gee, i certainly haven't heard any convo about this game, but it is it well done it might be kinda cool". Then I slyly looked around to see if my dogs heard me say that. After all they only play FPS's.

That led me to thinking about one of my all-time favorite XBOX games, a really good puzzle game based on a pretty bad movie, Disney's Haunted Mansion. It is kinda embarrassing to admit that is one of my favorite games (I've looked several times to see if they ever converted it to be played on 360....no such luck). In fact I wonder if anyone but me ever played the game! And with all the (hopefully) amazing games soon-to-be-released, I still find myself wondering if that Ghost Busters game will be worth a sh*t. Is it possible ot might be mildly pleasant?

I'd like to know what game you secretly enjoy...even love, but would be embarrassed to admit to your clan. (I promise I won't tell!)

[7 Comments]

Sure Lock Home Depot Video

I'm new, kinda, around here so this may already have been around but if not this is one of the funniest videos i've seen in a long time.

Embedded YouTube Video --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aikg6OP3jwU

[4 Comments]

Censorship in Public High Schools?

Since last week was American Library Association's "Banned Books Week", and since, during this week, I received paperwork for an official book challenge, I decided to open this topic up for discussion.

The book in question is "30 Days of Night", by Steve Niles, illustrated by Ben Templesmith. It is a "Graphic Novel", If you are not familiar with Graphic Novels, they are like a step up from comic books, usually hard bound, and with (often) more literary story lines. They are often sold in series, a continuing sage, so to speak. If you've been to the middle aisles of any big book story you will see them alongside manga, which are Japanese graphic novels, read back to front.

30 Days of Night is about a clan of vampires that decide that Barrow, Alaska would be a great hunting ground, being that there is a whole month without daylight. There is a lot of killing, blood splattered, heads dismembered, but the artwork is beautifully done. Highly stylized, not detailed like photography would be. The book has actually won several awards for the art work. Yes, this book was made into a movie.

I bought the book for our collection based on the description, because it was a 1.) a vampire novel, and 2.) a graphic novel. Both of these are very popular right now especially with struggling readers (and YES we have plenty of high school kids who struggle with reading). The book had been in our collection for 3 years, and had been checked out 22 times by 22 different patrons. No complaints or even comments until this 15 year old girl checked the book out. Other students say her big mistake was to show the book to her parents. (lol).

The county I work for has a policy by which we select library materials; loosely, that we support our curriculum, provide materials of a wide variety of interest and maturity levels, materials that promote thinking and desicion making, etc. I feel I was within my rights to purchase the book for the public high school library.

Now: the parents complaint: They did not read the book in its entirety, but protested the language (quite a few 4-letter words, but nothing you don't hear at lunch time in the cafeteria), and violence. They felt the book had no value whatsoever, and should not be read by anyone. They think the book should be pulled from our collection.

We (I first, then one of my Assistant Principals) listened to their complaint, and suggested that we put a note on their child's records in the circulation computer that prevents her from checking out materials meant for more mature students. As a parent of a minor child they have the right to make that request, and we would follow up on it. The parents were not satisfied. They want it gone. BUT DO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO PREVENT EVERYONE ELSE"S CHILD FROM CHECKING OUT THAT BOOK? One of their arguments was that the book should be rated "R" like the movie, and that high school students can't get into "R" movies without an adult. First, we have quite a few high school students that are over 17; second, for many of our families, going to the new vampire flick is a family outing!

Lastly, if we pull that one book, it opens up criteria for many other books in our collection to be pulled. The book was not required reading, it was student selected. Another alternative is to put the book in my office and require a permission slip for underage students to check it out.

Love to hear what you think!

Cayla

[8 Comments]

Whatta Ya Think?

OK....I'm an avid gamer, I teach in a high School and sponsor "Next Level", our school's video game club. Our club was approved by our school admins because we stress the members must keep there grades up, and in fact have to bring us a progress report each week (eg; motivation, bribery, whatever it takes to keep them in school). So is there evidence either way that gaming is good for you or bad for you? We know it is great fun, we know it is not great exercise (unless you are playing DDR). But in my opinion it beats 99% of what is on TV these days.

Does anyone know of any scientic studies that have been done on gaming? It seems I read recently that surgeons who game make 33% fewer errors in surgery (?).

And are gamers more likely to be psychotic? Participate in school shootings? Litter? love to hear what you think!

Tomorrow....30 Days of Night, graphic novel by is Steve Niles, is being contested in my school library.

[3 Comments]

What's A Nice Girl Like Me.....

What's a Nice Girl like me.....

Well, I am NOT 2old2play...even though I''m older than most of you on here! I'm a young 52, a teacher in a high school, actually a librarian, and my students love all the gaming and rock band posters on my office walls. My XBOX 360 is up near the top of my list of most valuable possessions, right under my two lovely, nearly grown daughters, and my two pups (and they are a near tie!). I am a single mom, not long ago ending a lengthy long distance relationship with the an who bought me my first Xbox, and my 360 as well. Even though he ended up being a royal jerk, I have that to thank him for! Actually he said I spent way too much time gaming, but, in my opinion. he spent way too much watching TV...so there!

I don't intend this entry to sound like a personal ad, but I am always up for good conversation about games or whatever, so 40-to-50 something single guys, if you want to chat let me know, or find me on Yahoo.... readlistendream.

I love RPG's and fps's, and recently have become entranced with Viva Pinata TIP...quite more strategy than it first appears. Also addicted to Carcassonne on Live Arcade. Eagerly awaiting Fable 2, and greatly wishing they will come out with another in the Morrowind/Oblivion series.

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